Silas e



UNITED STATES SlLAS n.

" nun COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N; Y."

DIYINE, OF LOOH SHELDRAKE, ASSIGNQR TO PATENT OFFICE.

BEND ROCK rti'w- EXPLOSIVE COM P O U--ND.'.

SPECIFICATION ,forming part of Letters-Patent. No. 243,432, dated June 28, 1881,

I r Application filed December 7, 1880. (No specimensi To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I,-SINLAS R. DIVINE, of Loch Sheldrake, Sullivan c'ountyfNew York, have invented a certain Improvement in Ex- 5 plosivcOqmpounds, of. which the following is a,

specification.

Itis the object of my invention to provide for employment, chiefly in blasting operations, a. high explosive the ingredients of which can be separately manufactured, handled, and transported, and can be mechanically united, when required for use, by the consumer, whereby the dmiger usually attending the manufacture, handling, and transportation of ordinary 1 high explosives is avoided.

My invention consists of an explosive compound composed of two in gradients-the one a solid,- such as crushed or powdered chlorate of potash, and the other a liquid, such as nitrate 2o oi'benzole-'which are combined to form a high explosive by merely causing the mass of the solid ingredient to absorb the liquid ingredient, a combination which can be eifected by the consumer at the time when and at the 2 place where the explosive is to be used. These ingredients, being in themselves incapable ofbeing exploded by percussion, can be with safety separately manufactured, handled, and transported to the consumer, who will have no 0 difficulty in effecting their combination, be-

cause the operation of combining them is of so simple a character.

Eithcrperchlorateor permanganate ofpotash may he used as the solid ingredient of my 5 explosivcyand other liquid nitro-compouuds may be substituted for the nitro-benzole, the

' essential condition being observed that the liquid ingredient substituted shall possess a degree of fluidity which shall adapt it to be 4.0 readily absorbed by the solid ingredient, so that the final act of preparing the explosive for use may be performed by merely bringing the two ingredients into juxtaposition and allowing the liquid ingredient to be absorbed by the solid ingredient.

In manufacturing my nitro-benzole I use the naphtha of commerce, and it will therefore be understood that my nitro-benzole contains some nitro-toluol and picric acid.

Four and one-sixth parts of chlorate of potash toone part of nitro-benzole I consider to constitute th theoretical proportions imwhich the ingredients of my compound combine most efl'ectively; but inorder to somewhat diminish v the sensitiveness of the'compound to ignition 5 5 by percussion I prefer to use from three to not exceeding four parts of chlorateof potash to one part of nitro-benzole.

.In another pending applicatio described a method for facilitating the einploythe explosive is to be performed, may be immersed in the liquid ingredicnt'forthe purpose of permitting the liquid ingredient to be absorhed'by the solid ingredient contained within the porous cartritlgeenvelopei- This 7o mode of uniting the ingredients affords asimpie and convenient means of regulating their relative proportions, because, after complete saturation has been eti'ected, the cartridge may be removed from the liquid ingredient, and 5 the excess of the liquid ingredient may be rcmoved from the cartridge by squeezing or wringing it by hand. lt'will, ot'course, be unstood, however, that the ingredients of my explosive may, if desired, be mixed in measured 8:. proportions and in any convenient vessel.

Owing to the viscous condition assumed by my explosive compound when the ingredients are united, it is not liable to he accidentally exploded by tamping in the act of charging the drill-hole, and in this respect possesses an important advantage, greatly contributing to safety in its employment.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United 0 States, is

The explosive compound herein described, which consists of a solid ingredient, such as chlorate of potash, and a liquid ingredient,

- such as nitro-benzole, mechanically united, sub 5 stantially in the proportions of from three to four and one-sixth parts of the .solid ingredient to one part of the liquid ingredient, substan'tially as and for the purpose set forth.

SILAS R. DIVINE. Witnesses:

WM. ScoT'r DE GAMP, G. R. KIMBALL.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 243,432, issued June :8, ISSL'upon the application of Silals R. Divine, for an improvement in Explosive Compounds, the assignee, the Bend Rock Powder. Company, Wes erroneously described as of New York, New York whereas it should read a eoqaoratioh created. by authorihy of the laws of the State of'New Jersey thatthe proper corrections hare been made in thefiles"'and records pertaining to the case in the Patent- Olfive, end are hereby made in said'iletters Patent.

Signed, eolmtersigned, and sealed this lfith day of November, A. l). 1881.

[SEAL] A, BELL.

Acting Secretary of the I merior. Gountersigned E. M. MARBLE,

C'ommqlesioner qf Pawn-m. 

